California's+Treasures

Misty Burnworth Angie Wilson Amy Rauen || ||
 * || =California's Treasures=

Overview
In this game students will choose a place to start in beautiful California and travel up and down the state collecting photographs of California's state symbols. They will be given a limited supply of fuel (1 tank of gas) to get them to their first destination. When they arrive at the locations they will search out treasures and artifacts and take pictures of them. They can sell the pictures to the publisher to purchase more fuel. Along the way the players can also earn money by taking pictures that the publisher needs.

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 This game will reinforce fourth-grade California state social science standards. ====== 
 *  Identify the state capital and describe the various regions of California, including how their characteristics and physical environments (e.g., water, landforms, vegetation, climate) affect human activity.
 *   Identify the locations of the Pacific Ocean, rivers, valleys, and mountain passes and explain their effects on the growth of towns.
 *   Use maps, charts, and pictures to describe how communities in California vary in land use, vegetation, wildlife, climate, population density, architecture, services, and transportation.
 *   Describe the mapping of, geographic basis of, and economic factors in the placement and function of the Spanish missions; and understand how the mission system expanded the influence of Spain and Catholicism throughout New Spain and Latin America.
 *   Identify the locations of Mexican settlements in California and those of other settlements, including Fort Ross and Sutter’s Fort.
 *   Analyze the impact of twentieth-century Californians on the nation’s artistic and cultural development, including the rise of the entertainment industry (e.g., Louis B. Meyer, Walt Disney, John Steinbeck, Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange, John Wayne).

Learners
This game is designed for third and fourth grade students and their families when applicable. This game will assist learners in mastering the social studies standards embedded into the curriculum. The fourth grade standards cover the study of the history of California. Learners will engage in this game during the time period in which the unit is taught, and can continue this game either in class or at home via the internet.

As another option, this game could also be adapted to be used in ESL classes to teach foreign students or exchange students about California.

Context of Use
This game would be used at school (introduced here) and can be continued at home or wherever a student has internet access. The accommodations necessary would be internet access at a reasonable bandwidth speed. Ideally the game would be played in a computer lab where all students could access simultaneously, however, as long as one team member has access it would be feasible.

<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The game is designed to be multi-player in teams of 3-4 students. Though one student would run the game controls, all team members would participate in decision-making and strategizing. The game could be played multiple times. The students would complete and save each adventure. A new adventure could be started by that same team or by a new team. The time period of the game would depend on how long players spend exploring the various locations in the game. Players could spend 2-3 hours completing an "assignment", or weeks. The game would be developed to be used through any web browser such as Firefox, Safari, etc.

Scope
==== <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">California Treasures would be a large game, as there are many locations available to explore. Time play will depend. If a player wants to complete the "assignment" in the game in a short amount of time (1-2 hours), he or she wouldn't spend time exploring the locations in depth. If a player did want to explore the various locations, the game could take as long as the player wanted it to. ====

<span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The game includes content related to the following: ==== <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In this adventure game, players would be able to explore major cities of California (San Diego, Los Angeles, San Franciso, Sacramento), as well as regions that may not be largely developed or populated, but are historically significant, i.e. Coloma and the Miwok Reservation. ====
 * CA history
 * CA landscapes/wildlife
 * CA resources
 * CA culture

Object of the Game
The goal of the game is for students to collect and sell photos of all California state symbols.

Competing Products
<span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Overall there were not very many egames or online games similar to California Treasures. Only a few were found that could be considered similar or "competing products."

One site which was very interesting and has some similar ideas and objectives is <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|The California Museum website] <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. The game is called Legacy Trails. It is a game which brings to life California's unique history with it's wonderful trails. It shares stories about California heroes as you explore the state through images and videos, create postcards, and even create your own trails. The video clip explains the game, though it seems the game is not quite "up and running." This website also has some very interesting links including a <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|California Trivia challenge] <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and a craft link which give instructions for constructing <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|California state symbols] <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">.

Another site which offers a game which has a few similarities to California Treasures is the <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Treasure-Adventure site.] <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The company, Treasure-Adventure will be launching an innovative treasure hunt game contest inspired by the 1849 Gold Rush. Players can compete for $1,000.00 by solving puzzles and clues while exploring real treasure legends across America.

Another site which offers quizzes related to California geography and history is at the Houghton Mifflin eduplace site. This site offers educational games to enhance it's social studies program used in many districts. The site is <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Eduplace.com] <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. The game is the Geonet game. It has several options, however this is not an adventure type game. It is a quiz/trivia game.

Another game with a similar object is called <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Time Warp, Treasure cave] <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. The premise is that you answer questions and solve puzzles to collect state treasures (not California specific).

There is already a literature program called California Treasures so the name of the egame could become an issue should it go through the publishing process. The <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|California Treasures literature program] <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">is through McGraw Hill publishing.

Design Details
//Universal Elements// Since one of the ideas of the game is for players to get a sense of what California actually looks like, the graphics would be photorealistic and colorful. //Specific Elements// **Map** **of the simulated world:**

**Description of the learner's role:** The learner plays the role of a photographer who has been assigned to photograph all of California's state symbols.

The goal is for the player to photograph all of California's state symbols. The path to doing so can be different for each player and for each replay of the game.
 * Description of the overall game goal: **

**Flowchart showing all possible locations and allowable moves:** See map of simulated world above.

**Description of the obstacles that will challenge the learner:**
 * Car trouble
 * Running out of gas
 * Roadblocks
 * Running out of money

**List of all prizes or artifacts and their locations:** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> Any non-player characters would just be random people at the various locations.
 * Golden poppy: Redwood National and State Parks, Coloma, Sacramento, San Diego
 * Dogface butterfly: Redwood National and State Parks, Coloma
 * Giant Redwood: Redwood National and State Parks
 * Grizzly Bear: Sacramento
 * Gray Whale: Pacific Ocean
 * Garibaldi: Aquarium
 * Quail: San Diego
 * Profiles of all non-player characters:**

**Description of the scoring system, if any:** This is not a score-based game. The game is over once the player has collected photographs of each CA state symbol.

**Sequence of sample screens showing how one moves and acts on the game:

Instruction screen.** Letter from publisher gives instructions and objective to player.


 * Map screen.**

Player is taken to a map of CA that shows all locations he/she may visit. Rolling over a site name causes a bubble to pop up showing the player what state symbols can be found there, and whether additional money-making photo opps are available there.


 * Location screen.**

Once player has chosen a location to visit, he/she is taken directly there and dropped at ground level. Player drives around the location in a car operated by keyboard arrows. Screen includes the following: The player is able to photograph anything that has a small, pulsing camera icon on it, by clicking on the icon. Taking a picture causes the photo album to automatically open. Once in the photo album, the player must click the category in which he/she would like to place the photo.
 * Gas gauge (upper left). Tells player how much gas is remaining. In order to purchase more gas, player must sell a photo.
 * Local map (lower left). Clicking this icon opens a local map of the location. The local map points out where state symbols and other photo opportunities may be found.
 * CA map (upper right). Clicking the state icon takes player to main map screen where he/she may choose another CA location to travel to. Player can travel 500 miles on a full tank of gas. If the location a player wants to travel to is further away than his/her gas quantity will allow, player must first travel to a closer location.
 * Photo album (upper right). Clicking the camera icon opens the player's photo album so he/she can see the photos he/she has taken.
 * Assignment from publisher (upper right). Clicking the letter icon opens the letter from the publisher so player can review the assignment/instructions.

Player can open his/her photo album at any time to see his/her photos. If player needs gas, he/she would open the photo album, click a photo to sell, then click the "Sell" button to sell it to the publisher. Gas needle raises when a photo is sold. Player may have to sell multiple photos to afford a full tank of gas.
 * Photo album screen.**

The route a player/team follows to collect photos of all state symbols is saved so it can be reviewed and discussed later if wanted.
 * Player route screen.**

//Technical Elements// Specific software needed to author the game: We're not sure. Platform(s) the game would be developed for: Internet-based for Windows and Mac. File formats of graphics and sounds: We're not sure about the graphics, but believe the sounds would be .wav files. Method to accommodate multiple platforms: Game would be coded to function in multiple browsers. Data structures for any files used to save the game state: If student save a game, saved data would include the location in which the student left off, amount of gas in gas tank, photos taken, and route traveled.

Motivational Issues
Kids and adult alike will be motivated to play this game. Not only will they learn about and explore California's treasures, but they will also learn how to budget trips, and work as a team.
 * California's Treasures challenges the to collect pictures of all the state symbols, which are spread out throughout the state, without running out of fuel. While traveling, their fuel diminishes. They will come across real-life obstacles such as car trouble based on the climate, animal activity, and stranded motorists. They will be able to purchase more fuel whenever they sell a picture to the publisher. There are a number of categories that the publishers needs, so the players need to categorize their photographs as they are playing so that they can sell them when they need more gas.
 * This game provides the gamers to virtually travel across the state of California. Their interest will be piqued when the find out the abundance of natural and architectural beauty, as well as the fascinating history of the state. When else can you travel from Sutter's Mill to Mission San Juan Capistrano in a matter of minutes?
 * The players will control where they go as a team. Through the discussion about where to travel next, the players will develop reasoning skills, as well as decision making skills. Their decisions about where they go are dependent on state symbols needed and the amount of gas they have in their tank.
 * The players in the California's Treasures Game will be able to fantasize that they are a photojournalist in search of the most picturesque scenes.

Design Process
As a fourth-grade teacher, I have struggled with exposing my students to the vastness and variety of California. A game allows the learners the opportunity to travel across the state and introduce them to the amazing sights and history across the state, while having fun. I also wanted the players to learn how to budget their money and fuel. A travel game across the state, where the players collected historical artifacts, was the initial idea. Bernie Dodge, our instructor, suggested that the players take photographs instead of artifacts, and to give the team of players choices about where they would travel.

One idea we considered and rejected was using Google Earth as the platform so that the locations would not have to be recreated and the players would be able to see how places look in real-life. We rejected this idea due to uncertainty of whether or not Google Earth could actually be the platform, considering our specific game components would have to somehow be incorporated into it. Instead, we decided the game would be developed using traditional coding, illustration, and animation. Misty was one of our main sources of information, as she teaches fourth grade. Other information was taken from websites. Angie conducted Internet research on existing similar games. To get feedback on the idea, Misty first posted it on the class discussion board, and then our team met with Bernie to see what he thought. We fleshed out the game together by brainstorming and meeting. Amy brought hand-drawn screen sketches to discuss in one of our team meetings, during which many details were worked out. As a team, we considered ideas that would be cool (having the entire state of CA be "explorable"), and then revised them to be more realistic (offer a limited number of locations to visit). We gathered feedback on our prototype from other classmates.